The stonefruit campaign had started really well, with prices that were even higher than last season, but in recent weeks the situation has changed radically and prices have plummeted. From the beginning of the campaign, prices have been on a very worrisome downward trend, with a clear decline also in relation to the same period of the previous campaign.
"We are already in the last stage of the stonefruit season and we can't wait for it to end," states a producer and exporter from Seville. "Prices have already hit rock bottom."
The Spanish stonefruit season started much earlier this year, in early April, and with greater volumes than last season. This production reached European markets at a time when the weather was marked by abundant rains and low temperatures, not very suitable to encourage the consumption of summer fruits.
"The demand has been very low; the markets were very quiet and supermarket chains were not encouraged to place stonefruit on their shelves. Meanwhile, in the Spanish fields, high temperatures have accelerated the ripening of the fruit and exporters were forced to ship fruit to the market, since it cannot be stored for a long time. It should be noted that the Region of Murcia has greatly increased its production volume, putting considerable pressure on prices," explains the exporter.
"Now, although there is already good weather across Europe, France and Italy are already starting their campaigns, as well as Lleida, so prices will continue to fall."
In Valencia, for example, according to information from the Department of Agriculture, the price received by producers in the last week of April for the extra early peaches reached 2.53 €/kg, that of yellow nectarines stood at 2.65 €/kg, and that of apricots amounted to 2 €/kg. Now, according to the latest data available for the week from 16 to 22 May, the price stands at € 0.49 for nectarines, € 0.62 for peaches and € 0.55 for apricots.
